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Miami resident Norman Braman made his fortune as a pharmaceutical manufacturer and auto dealer, but he has made a second career out of crusading against public funding for professional sports stadiums.

Braman, 80, was a vocal opponent of the deal that used over $500 million in taxpayer dollars for the new Marlins Park. And he’s being equally vocal in his opposition of the Dolphins’ plea for public funds to upgrade Sun Life Stadium, which is on course to be put to public vote in Miami-Dade County on May 14.

Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenezsaid Monday that the Dolphins’ deal, which would use approximately $170 million in public funds by raising the hotel tax and utilizing a sales tax subsidy from the state, “is so different from the Marlins deal. Even to say them in the same breath is a stretch. It is like night and day.”

“I think it’s the same as the Marlins deal,” said Braman, formerly the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. “In this particular deal I think it’s even more egregious just because Steve Ross is a multibillionaire. … This is welfare for a multi-billionaire.”

The Dolphins and Miami-Dade agreed to the plan late Monday, in which the Dolphins say they will pay approximately 70 percent of the costs to build a canopy over the seats, improve sightlines, bring seats closer to the field and add several modern amenities to Sun Life Stadium, which is 26 years old. But lawmakers in Tallahassee still must change state law to increase the Miami-Dade hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent and approve the sales tax rebate before the measure can even be put to a countywide vote next month.

Braman said the Dolphins should simply pay for the renovations themselves. He noted that former Dolphins owner Joe Robbie built the Dolphins’ current stadium in 1987 with his own money, and that the Chicago Cubs have pledged to pay for $300 million in renovations completely with private dollars.

“This is something that Steve Ross should be paying for himself,” Braman said. “It’s his asset, it’s his stadium. Joe Robbie built his own stadium. If Steve Ross wants to fix it up and make changes to it, he should write the check.”

The Dolphins contend that improving Sun Life Stadium is crucial for landing major events like Super Bowls and BCS Championship Games and brings valuable tourist dollars to Miami-Dade.

The Dolphins have offered to pay back approximately $120 million to the county in 30 years, but Braman bemoaned the fact that the loan doesn’t take interest or inflation into account. He also claimed that Miami hotels are already at 93-95 percent occupancy in February, when the Super Bowl is held.

“It’s just wrong. It’s just sickening,” Braman said. “All of this is part of a scam that the Dolphins and Steve Ross has participated in with the help of Roger Goodell from the NFL.”

Braman said he doesn’t blame Ross for trying to get public funds to build his stadium, but hopes that politicians don’t make a bad deal like they did with the Marlins.

“I have nothing against Steve Ross. … This is a matter of principle,” Braman said. “I told Steve Ross he should write the check. He can afford it. He knows I’m right, but if he can get the taxpayers to pay for it, why shouldn’t he? It’s the same with (Marlins owner) Jeffrey Loria.”